I'm just registered... F800GS blown up!

[m0ng00se]

I am on my way to Vines tomorrow morning for them to listen, hopefully they will fix whatever is wrong, will keep you posted !

Well, as expected, 60 mile ride down to Vines in Guildford, bike is nice and hot, knocking sound goes away and they say it sounds normal

Only option is for me to leave it overnight so they can start and listen to it in the morning when its cold. Will try a dealership closer to home.

 

[santrix]

have you shown them the video?

 

[m0ng00se]

have you shown them the video?

I did yes, the technician then said, "Oh, there is a knock", but still said it sounds fine when he was listening to it. They said I should make an appointment, leave it with them overnight so that they can listen to it the next morning when it's cold.

The technician also said not to listen to guys on the forum, they normally don't know what they are talking about

I will try and take it more local, maybe Battersea dealership and see what they say.

 

[martin c s]

Exactly what happened to me, so I left it til the noise happened all the time hot or cold then they did somthing no problem. Coincidentally they were not complimentary about the forum either. Implied we just make up all these problems!

 

[Snoopy]

What do you lot expect of a cheap Chinese toy?

 

[everywherevirtually]

What do you lot expect of a cheap Chinese toy?

You are ill informed sir . The engine is built at Rotax-Bombardier in Steyr, Austria before it is then shipped to Berlin for assembly. The Steel incidentally is made up the road in Linz, Austria.

Should you require any further information just ask the experts

As for things being made in China I no longer see it as a badge of shame. The Chinese pretty much make everything these days and have the most up to date equipment. Sure there will always be bad apples but I am impressed with the workmanship of Chinese goods, whether they be clothes, electronics or household goods.

 

[colint]

You are ill informed sir . The engine is built at Rotax-Bombardier in Steyr, Austria before it is then shipped to Berlin for assembly. The Steel incidentally is made up the road in Linz, Austria.

Should you require any further information just ask the experts

As for things being made in China I no longer see it as a badge of shame. The Chinese pretty much make everything these days and have the most up to date equipment. Sure there will always be bad apples but I am impressed with the workmanship of Chinese goods, whether they be clothes, electronics or household goods.

+1
IMHO Last boxer of any quality was the R1100GS
I work in the manufacturing sector (one of the few in the UK left) I agree with everywherevirtually the competition from China is harder to fight as the quality has now improved and is in line with European quality and much cheaper.
Like most tossers we all have a different experience with different models I have owned GS's since 1985 the last boxer was an R1200GSA
R1200GSA new within the first 5000 miles (6 months through winter) I was recovered through breakdown 6 times!! also a crap finish my buddy who bought one just after me has had a new subframe under warranty due to corrosion.
F800GS bought second hand for less than half the price of the 1200 I have since added 12,000 miles no issues yet it is ridden winter and summer it has had the same treatment as 1200, and no problems with the finish as yet, as for residuals 40% of £6,000 is a lot less wonga than 40% of £13,000.
Plus I can pick it up when I drop it!!

 

[Micky]

You are ill informed sir . The engine is built at Rotax-Bombardier in Steyr, Austria before it is then shipped to Berlin for assembly. The Steel incidentally is made up the road in Linz, Austria.

Should you require any further information just ask the experts

As for things being made in China I no longer see it as a badge of shame. The Chinese pretty much make everything these days and have the most up to date equipment. Sure there will always be bad apples but I am impressed with the workmanship of Chinese goods, whether they be clothes, electronics or household goods.

Don't worry Jon ... according to Snoops the F650GS (singles) won't wheely! He's a tad out of touch these days, maybe too much Newcastle Brown

 

[Greggers]

Just listened to the vid ... sounds very much like the F800S I had as a loaner from CW in the spring .. they knew about the problem and told me that a lot of early 800s had the same noise - they ended up changing the motor and shipping the 'knocker' back to BMW for appraisal...

I commented at the time though that the engine itself was really really strong, and seemed a lot more powerful than my GS ...

Greg

 

[Snoopy]

Don't worry Jon ... according to Snoops the F650GS (singles) won't wheely! He's a tad out of touch these days, maybe too much Newcastle Brown

The 800 is only a great bike because you currently own it.

[ I'll eat my words when my 1200 blows up. ]

 

[Micky]

The 800 is only a great bike because you currently own it.

[ I'll eat my words when my 1200 blows up. ]

You're right of course Andrew

35,000 miles now and never had as much fun with my trousers on

Think of your old F650 Dakar but with a better weight feel about it and much better off road potential (not with me on it though, I might add) All the real world performance of a 1200GS but with up to eight euro's a day less petrol ... and you bet it's a great 'bike

 

[Snoopy]

You're right of course Andrew

35,000 miles now and never had as much fun with my trousers on

Think of your old F650 Dakar but with a better weight feel about it and much better off road potential (not with me on it though, I might add) All the real world performance of a 1200GS but with up to eight euro's a day less petrol ... and you bet it's a great 'bike

That's a canny mileage in the time you've had it. Carry on.

 

[Flipfly]

You're right of course Andrew

35,000 miles now and never had as much fun with my trousers on

Think of your old F650 Dakar but with a better weight feel about it and much better off road potential (not with me on it though, I might add) All the real world performance of a 1200GS but with up to eight euro's a day less petrol ... and you bet it's a great 'bike

FFS Micky will you never learn!!!

Don't encourage him, the last thing you need as an 800 owner is the master of disaster getting hold of an 800. Your secondhand value will drop through the floor!!!.

How's ya sticky throttle Snoops??

I have been considering an 800 since they came out, but thought I'd hang on and see how reliable they were. Glad I did. They'll have it sorted in a few years so may look at one then, for now I'll stick with my 650

 

[Snoopy]

You are ill informed sir . The engine is built at Rotax-Bombardier in Steyr, Austria before it is then shipped to Berlin for assembly. The Steel incidentally is made up the road in Linz, Austria.

You may say that but apparently lots of owners are having pistons and barrels changed due to a manufacturing defect.

 

[Snoopy]

FFS Micky will you never learn!!!

Don't encourage him, the last thing you need as an 800 owner is the master of disaster getting hold of an 800. Your secondhand value will drop through the floor!!!.

How's ya sticky throttle Snoops??

I have been considering an 800 since they came out, but thought I'd hang on and see how reliable they were. Glad I did. They'll have it sorted in a few years so may look at one then, for now I'll stick with my 650

Sticky throttle self cured itself the next morning. Only the 1200 can diagnose and fix its own problems without user intervention.

The 800 is probably too much bike for you. The girly/gay 650 suits you down to the ground so stick with it.

 

[everywherevirtually]

You may say that but apparently lots of owners are having pistons and barrels changed due to a manufacturing defect.

I never said the Austrians are perfect. Show me a man made machine that doesn't go wrong at some point? Planes fall out of the sky, satellites crash into the sea, engines seize, hard drives fail and computers blow up. It is the way of the world. Things can and do go wrong.

I've done 30,000 miles on my 800 without any bother. Had a few recalls done, a top hose swapped, a software update or two and some tweaking to the fuel gauge but not one thing has stopped me or required me to call BMW assist.

I'm happy with mine.

 

[Dean]

I never said the Austrians are perfect. Show me a man made machine that doesn't go wrong at some point? Planes fall out of the sky, satellites crash into the sea, engines seize, hard drives fail and computers blow up. It is the way of the world. Things can and do go wrong.

I've done 30,000 miles on my 800 without any bother. Had a few recalls done, a top hose swapped, a software update or two and some tweaking to the fuel gauge but not one thing has stopped me or required me to call BMW assist.

I'm happy with mine.

Hasnt there been lots of problembs with the bigger engines also Final drive issues ? Maybe the answer to all the engines 800cc and above is 71BHP

 

[m0ng00se]

Just a quick update from my side. Video of my engine tappy/rattling/clonking whatever you wanna call it is here : http://bit.ly/7V0jw

Original reported to SBW in Hertford, possible noisy waterpump was the response

Then took to Vines in Guildford which is about 60 miles away, engine is hot so the noise is less noticeable, sounds normal was the response

Took the bike to my "local" dealer, Battersea, London which was the most helpful so far would you believe it ... Veronika organized for it to be booked in and a loan bike (another 800GS which btw, sounds completely different to mine). Left the bike overnight, as the sound is at it's worse when cold and the next morning I quickly had the "normal" response until I opened the throttle slightly at which point the technician was like, Ohhhh, yeah !

First response, a coil ??? misfire ??? I find that hard to believe ! I then said, " well, can we get it fixed" and his response was, "Depends how deep your pocket is" Warranty job mate ...

They then kept the bike, put it through diags which apparently flagged up nothing, but they replaced the coil and there was some problems with the spark plugs as well according to the job sheet. At first it sounded ok (not 100%), but much better .... until this morning, the noise is back again

Going in again next week and I think I am going to bug them constantly until this engine is fixed and/or replaced ... will keep you updated.

 

[Micky]

You may say that but apparently lots of owners are having pistons and barrels changed due to a manufacturing defect.

Facts right again please Snoops ... it's the F800S and ST's that have had a few reports of pistons and cases being replaced. They don't have 'barrels' matie ... integral with crankcases I'm afraid. 650 and 800GS's have the teflon coated piston

Used through one full winter and not a trace of corrosion at all, whatsoever, on my crankcases, or anywhere else for that matter! Better finish for sure than the 1200's

 

[m0ng00se]

Just another quick update. Video of my engine tappy/rattling/clonking whatever you wanna call it is here : http://bit.ly/7V0jw

BMW Battersea have just phoned me and now admits the engine does not sound healthy at all ... At least now they admit it. They seem to be unsure of what the problem is, so they called BMW technical services who requested they take the whole engine apart to start looking for the fault ... they can't tell me how long that will take.

Like I said, at least they admit there is something wrong, not happy that I'm without a bike for a few days, but happy they are now at least taking it seriously

Will let you know what the outcome is ...